Automatic quantity control



July 5, 1955 w. R. SMITH ET AL 2,712,374 AUTOMATIC QUANTITY CONTROL Filed March 16, 1953 Fig.

INVENTORS WALTER G. KLETTKE WILLIAM R. SMIT 2,712,37 4 AUTQMATIC QUANTETY CONTROL William Ralph Smith and Walter G. Klettlre, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,682 7 Claims. (Ci. 192-142) This invention relates in general to an automatic quantity controlling device and more particularly to a type thereof for automatically moving one mechanical element in response to movement of another mechanical element a selected number of times.

For a number of years, there have been used a variety of machines for performing operations involving the counting of specific numbers of actuations, such as the counting of pharmaceutical capsules incident to the making thereof. Some of these machines are equipped with control handles for starting or stopping them manually as certain predetermined numbers of operations are performed.

Our invention contemplates a combined mechanical and electrical device whereby the counting of such operations, as the making of capsules, can be accomplished accurately, automatically and, for a given apparatus, within a wide range of quantities, and for actuating a mechanical part, as a control handle, upon the attainment of a predetermined count.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision or an automatic counting device which accurately reacts to a predetermined number of selected actuations by a connected machine and effects another mechanical operation.-

A further object of this invention is the provision of a control, as aforesaid, which can be easily preset by an operator to respond to a desired number of said actuations.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a control, as aforesaid, having an electrical system which is completely de-energized at the termination of said number of actuations, thereby protecting itself, conserving electrical energy and promoting the safety of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which will be (1) de-energized during the major part or" the operation of the machine which is being subjected to control, (2) energized for performing its in tended function for only a very short time prior to the occurence of the events to and (3) de-energized immediately thereafter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quantity counting device, as aforesaid, which will actuate a mechanical part, as a control handle, upon the occurrence of a predetermined number of events.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a control, as aforesaid, which will not interfere with manual starting and/or stopping of a machine at an operators will by movement of said control handle.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the following specification and examining the attached drawing in which:

Figure l is a substantially diagrammatic view of our automatic control.

Figure 2 is an enlarged and more detailed View of the which it is intended to react tJnite-d grates Patent Utice Patented July 5, 1955 nematically the machine being controlled.

General discussion In meeting the above mentioned objects, as well as others related thereto, we have provided an 'electro-responsive device, as a solenoid, actuating a plunger connectible to the part being subjected to control, as a control handle for the machine whose operation is being governed. A normally de-energized electrical system is provided for connecting a source of electrical potential, with said electro-responsive means, said system including two normally open, series connected, switches. Means are provided, which in the embodiment here utilized for illustrative purposes includes a ratchet and a cam, for responding to a predetermined number of movements of a conveniently accessible portion of the machine being controlled for closing one of said switches and other means are provided for closing the other of said switches upon further subsequent actuation of said machine. The closing of both of said switches energizes the electro-responsive means and effects movement of the mechanical part being subjected to the control. Completion of movement of said mechanical part then actuates further means by which one of said switches is opened and the electric system is thereby again tie-energized prior to commencement of another cycle of operation.

Description As disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the automatic quantity control device is comprised of a cam wheel 11 and an electrical circuit 12 which is energized and de-energized in ordered sequence responsive to rotation of said wheel. The wheel 11 is provided with a radially extending pin 13 on its periphery.

A ratchet wheel 15, which is coaxial and rotatable with said cam wheel, is disposed adjacent thereto. Said ratchet Wheel has a plurality of teeth 16 along the periphery thereof engageable by an actuating pawl 17 for rotating said ratchet wheel, hence said cam wheel, in a countercloclc wise direction in this particular embodiment as appearing in Figure 2. The pawl 17 is pivotally supported for movement in the plane of said ratchet wheel upon a ratchet arm 18 which is pivotally supported at one end thereof adjacent to said ratchet wheel and coaxial there with. The other end of said arm 18 is pivotally connected to link 19 which is in turn connected to the machine C being controlled, as a machine for making pharmaceutical capsules, in such a manner that said link 19 will be moved upwardly and downwardly (as appearing in Figure 2) once for each occurrence of the events being counted. The pawl 17 is spring urged into positive engagement with the teeth 16.

A detent pawl 21 is pivotally supported for engagement with said teeth 16 and spring urged into positive contact therewith. The number of teeth 16 on said ratchet wheel 15 may vary widely within the physical limitations of the structure and the wheel diameter. In this embodiment there are, for illustrative purposes only, sixty of said teeth The selector knob 22 is connected to the ratchet wheel 15 for rotating same independently of the arm 18.

Operation of the machine C is normally initiated or terminated by appropriate manual operation of the handle 45, which, for example, may operate a clutch or other power controlling device.

In the circuit 12 (Figure l), the normally open switch 25 is mounted for closing by pin 13 when the detent pawl 21 is approximately seated between a particular pair of teeth 16a and 16b. The normally open switch 26 is mounted for closing by pin 13 when the detent pawl is approximately seated between tooth 16b and the next following tooth 16c. lthough in some circumstances the switches may be placed far enough apart that several actuations of the ratchet will be necessary to move the cam 13 from one switch to the other, in most cases these switches will be as close together as possible with switch 26 being fixed at the point where actuation of the control handle is desired and switch 25 being placed as close to it as possible. Thus, the switch 25 is closed by pin 13 and then, after the next movement of the ratchet Wheel 15 and consequent movement of the cam wheel 11, switch 26 is closed by pin 13 and switch 25 opens.

The control relay 2? has an armature 23 operated in both upward and downward directions in a conventional manner by a pair of coaxial windings 2% and 31. The relay also three sets of contacts 32, 33 and 345, said armature closing the contacts 33 when rnoved downwardly by the winding 29 and closing the contacts 32 and 34 when moved upwardly by the winding 31. Any conventional devices, such as mechanical latches or a pair of permanent magnets 36 and 45, are provided to hold the relay arnia e in either shifted position until energization of a ding positively moves the relay armature to the other shifted position.

T he normally open action relay 35 has a winding 36 and, in this particular embodiment, two sets of contacts 37 and 38 both of which are closed by the armature 39 when the winding is energized.

The switch 25 is connected by conductor ll to one of the contacts 33 and by conductor 42 to one end Of the winding 31. The other end of winding 31 goes to ground. The switch 26 is connected by conductor 43 to one of the contacts 34- and by conductor i-tto one end of winding 36, the other end thereof being grounded.

The element being subjected to control, as the operating lever which controls operation of the machine C, is engaged by one end of the plunger 46 of the clutch sol noid il. When energized, the solenoid 47 causes the other end of plunger 46 to close the disconnect switch 43, one side of which is connected by conductor 49 to one of the contacts 32 in relay 27. The other side of switch is connected by conductor 51 to one end of Winding 29, the other side of said winding being grounded.

The others of said contacts 32, 33 and 34, not connected to conductors 49, 41 and i3, respectively, are connected to a source A of electrical energy, such as 110 v. A. C.

The contacts 37 and 3% of relay 35 are connected in parallel, side of each thereof being connected by conductor to one end of solenoid 47, the other side of said. solenoid being grounded. The other side of said contacts 37 and 3 5 are connected to a source B of energy, such as 110 v. A. Q, which may be, and gcneraly is, the same as source A.

Operation As indicated by the above description, the automatic control terminates the operation of the machine C being subjected to control when said cam wheel arrives at a particular position in its rotational movement, regardless of the position of said cam when such movement is initiated by rightward (as appearing in Figure l) movement of the lever The step just preceding such terminat o eiiccts a cocking of said circuit 12 whereby said tei tion can be accomplished.

More specifically, the ratchet wheel 15 is set as desired by the knob 22 to permit step-by-step rotation thereof in a counterclockwise direction until the pin 13 reaches the position where it closes switch 25. Each actuation the arm 18 rotates the ratchet wheel through an arc, herein referred to as a step, equivalent to the pitch of teeth Each such actuation leaves the detent pawl 21 snugly between two teeth, said detent thereby preventing back-lash of the wheel 15 by the pawl 17 as the arm 38 is returned clockwise preparatory 4i to moving said ratchet wheel the next step counterclockwise. in this embodiment, the ratchet wheel 15 can be set by rotation of the knob 22 to move any number of steps from 1 through 60 before the pin 13 ClGSfiS'lhC 5 switch 25.

Assuming, by way of illustration, that the wheel 15 is preset for 30 steps, the lever 45 is moved rightwardly (Figure 1) thereby initiating operation of the machine C being controlled. This in turn initiates reciprocation of link 19 (Figure 2) which acts through the rm .l the pawl 17 to effect step-by step counterrotation of the wheel and of the cam wheel 31 and 36 all consequently tie-energized. the relay armatures are both in their host positions so that the contacts 33 connected and the contacts 32 and 34 i the contacts 37 and 33 of relay 35 are all open.

Yfhcn the 29th, or next to last, step is accomplished, o .5 closes switch thereby completing the cirthe power sourc A through the contacts 33 25 ""ding 31 to ground. The armature is moved thcreoy -.o its dotted line position to close the contacts This, in effect, cocks the circuit 12-.

th, or last, step causes pin l3 both to close and to permit switch to open. nane t magnet holds the armature of relay 'ard position until a definite force is applied downwardly. rlence, even though the switch pens. the relay remains in its onward posi on and e closing of the s: h 2-5 completes a cir :it therethrough, thereby completing the circuit thrn conducors 43 44, and the winding as to ground. Enerthereby completing gization of winding 36 closes relay 35 circuit through conductor 52 and the solenoid 47 front the power source 3" to ground. Energizatior of solenoid 47 causes the plunger .6, and lever i attached thereto, to move leftwardry into the dotted lin positions (Figure 1). This movement of lever terini nates operation of machine C or performs such other function as desired.

Leftward movement of p unger switch iii, thereby completing the also closes the uit through the relay 27, the conductors 5.1 and 59, an the winding 29 to ground. Such energization of winding 29 moves the armature 22% downwardly into its solid line position thereby opening the contacts and and closing the contacts 33. With the opening of the contacts 32, the winding 25 becomes tie-energized and with the opening of the contacts 3d, the winding 36 becomes tie-energized. The (lo-energizing of winding opens the contacts of the relay 35 and tie-energizes the solenoid. Thus, the entire circuit is (lo-energized.

The control is now ready for resetting, if necessary, r e-initiating by rightward movement lever 45 W1 ich will again start the machine C put into operati-cn the same sequence above described.

has, the circuit is deener ized immediately following the movement of the lever 45, it is not again energized until the closing of, the switch 25' which may, if desired, be caused to occur extremely short period of time ahead of the point of closing the switch 26 and which may be effected by a single movement of the l Accordingly, it will be appreciated that cam whee. ii. the entire electric circuit is de-energized durin part of the functioning 5 disclose a particular, preferred embodiment of our inven- However, 7

5 tion, it will be recognized that variations and modifications may he made therein without departing from the scope thereof unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A control device for moving a first mechanical element in response to the movement of a second mechanical element a predetermined number of times, comprising in combination: an electro-responsive means for moving said first mechanical element; source means c nnectible to a source of potential; normally de-cnergized electric circuitry connecting said source means and said electro-responsive means, said circuitry including two normally open, series connected, switches; means responsive to a selected number of movements of said second mechanical element for closing one of said switches; means responsive to a selected number of movements of said second mechanical element for closing the other of said switches; means responsive to movement of said first mechanical element for opening one of said switches.

2. A control device for moving a first mechanical element in response to the movement or" a second mechanic 1 element a predetermined number of times, conr prising in combination: source means connectible to a source of electric potential; first and second, normally open switches and means responsive to movement of sait second mechanical element a predetermined number of times for mechanically closing said switches in a selected sequence; a first relay electrically closed upon closure of said first switch; a normally open second relay having its winding in series with contacts of said first relay electrically closed upon closure of said second switch; electroresponsive means connectible to said first mechanial element and energized upon closure of said second relay to effect a movement thereof; and a normally open disconnect switch mechanically closed by such movement to electrically open said first relay and thereby disconnect said control from said source.

3. A control device for moving a first mechanical ele ment in response to the movement of a second mechanical element a predetermined number of times, comprising in combination: a source of potential; first and second normally open switches and means responsive to movement of said second mechanical element mechanically closing said switches in a selected sequence; a control relay having first and second windings, said first winding being energized from said source by closure of said first switch to close said relay and de-energize said first winding; a normally open action relay having its winding in series with said first relay energized by said source to close upon closure of said second switch while said first relay is closed; a clutch solenoid having a plunger connectible with said first mechanical element, said solenoid being energized from said source upon closure of said action relay to move said plunger; a normally open disconnect switch closed by said movement for energizing said second winding from said source and thereby opening said control relay and de-energizing said control device.

'4. The device of claim 3 including means to hold said relay in either its open or closed position until energization of a winding of the said relay causes the relay to move to its other position.

5. A control device for moving a first mechanical element in response to the movement of a second mechanical element a predetermined number of times, comprising in combination: a cam wheel and means rotatably supporting same; actuating means for effecting equal, unidirectional, rotational stepwise movements of said wheel; at least one cam on said wheel; a source of electric energy; one normally open switch closable by said cam during a preselected movement of said wheel; another normally open switch closable by said cam during a subsequent movement; a first relay electrically closed upon closure of said one switch; a normally open second relay having its winding in series with a pair of contacts of said first relay electrically closed upon closure of said another switch; electro-responsive means connectible to said first mechanical element for effecting a shift thereof upon closure of said second relay; and a normally open disconnect switch mechanically closed by said electro-responsive means for electrically opening said first relay and thereby L e-energizing the entire device.

6. A control device for moving a first mechanical element in response to the movement of a second mechanical element a predetermined number of times, comprising in combination: a cam wheel and means rotatably supporting same; actuating means for efiecting equal, unidirectional, rotational, stepwise movements of said wheel; selector means for manually rotating said wheel independently of said actuating means; a cam means on said wheel; a source of electric energy; one normally open switch closable by said cam means during a preselected movement of said wheel; another normally open switch closable by said cam means during a subsequent movement; a first relay electrically closed upon closure of said one switch; a normally open second relay having its winding in series with a pair of contacts of said first relay and electrically closed upon closure of said another switch; electro-responsive means connectible to said first mechanical element for effecting a shift thereof upon closure of said second relay; and a normally open disconnect switch mechanically closed by said electro-responsive means for electrically opening said first relay and thereby de-energizing the entire device.

7. A control device for moving a first mechanical element in response to the movement of a second mechanical element a predetermined number of times, comprising in combination: a toothed wheel; means connectible to said second mechanical element engageable with the teeth of said toothed wheel for effecting unidirectional, rotational, stepwise movement or" said wheel; each step equal cam wheel rotatain distance to the pitch of said teeth; a

ble and coaxial with said toothed wheel; a switch closing means on said cam wheel near its periphery; a source of potential; 21 first normally open switch closable by said switch closing means when, and only when, said wheel is advanced through a preselected step; a second normally open switch closable by said switch closing means when, and only when, said wheel is advanced through a subsequent arc of movement; a first relay having first and second windings, said first winding being energized upon closing of said first switch to close said relay and also to tie-energize itself; a normally open second relay energized by said source upon closing of said first relay to close upon closure of said second switch; a plunger securable to said first mechanical element; a clutch solenoid energized upon closure of said second relay for moving said plunger; a normally open disconnect switch closed by said movement of said plunger for energizing said second winding for opening said first relay to de-energizc the entire device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

